CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Orchestra, conducted by Robert Porco performs its 35th annual concert in celebration of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 7:00 pm at Severance Hall.
The concert features the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus (a volunteer chorus from the greater Cleveland community) prepared by William Henry Caldwell, and Sphinx Competition prizewinner Sterling Elliott as cello soloist.
At the beginning of the concert, Mayor Frank Jackson, assisted by Cleveland Councilman Kevin Conwell and Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell, will present the 2015 MLK Community Service Awards in three categories in recognition of the services and achievements of an adult, a youth, and a business or organization that have positively impacted Cleveland in the spirit of the teachings and example of Dr. King.
The free concert (tickets required) is sold out. The Cleveland Orchestra's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert draws more than 2,000 members of the community to Severance Hall to celebrate the spirit of Dr. King.
Organizers say they are not surprised that the show sold out 25 minutes after tickets were available. "I think the opportunity to come together especially on this day and to feel the power of music, to bring people together is so emotional," Cleveland Orchestra director of education and community programs Joan Katz Napoli
The following day, Monday, January 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Severance Hall joins the city-wide celebration of Dr. King's life with a free, public open house offering instrumental, vocal, and dance performances (no tickets required.) This day of music will feature performances by community musical ensembles and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus.
For a complete schedule of open house events, please visit this link www.clevelandorchestra.com.
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